AvenidaCesarChavez
José Nuñez at Zamora Bros.
February 21, 2010
After posting the photo of the Denny's sign going up I started to think about José Nuñez.
In February of 2008 I met José after he played a set at Troy's Burgers on Avenida Cesar Chavez and Eastern Ave. A few days later I met him there and we took the bus to Zamora Bros so I could shoot him playing for tips. A couple days later I recorded him playing at the Jack in the Box on Avenida Cesar Chavez and Mott St.
I wondered if Denny's will allow him and others to play.
You can hear José play a bit here.
Avenida Cesar Chavez
February 20, 2010
A Denny's restaurant sign is installed on the corner of Avenida Cesar Chavez and Mednik Ave on Friday February 19, 2010 in East Los Angeles.
There used to be a Victory Outreach thrift store where the restaurant is now.
Avenida Cesar Chavez
February 01, 2010
On Sunday January 31, 2010 I shot a Flag Retirement Ceremony held at the American Legion Post 804 on Avenida Cesar Chavez in East LA.. Five LA County Fire Department Explorers folded over 30 flags that were dropped off by local residents. During the ceremony members of the post, other veterans and family members dropped flags into a pit to be properly disposed.
The Eastsider LA also used the photos.
Late Groom - Avenida Cesar Chavez
June 12, 2009
The groom was late, everyone looked stressed and I just had to get a picture of it.
"Who are you!?! We already have a photographer!", the bride snapped at me. I did not want to miss the picture so I ignored the first time she spoke to me. I was hoping she would ignore the stranger with the camera leaning into the car through an open door.
She asked me again and I tried to explain that I was shooting street scenes on Avenida Cesar Chavez. She did not care but luckily the offer of free photos got a relative on my side and she told the bride it was OK.
The groom arrived only 15 minutes late and all went well. He later emailed me got his photos.
Richard on Avenida Cesar Chavez
May 27, 2009
I first met Richard while shooting on Av Cesar Chavez. He was collecting cans and bottles to sell. We ran into each other a few days later in front of Nuestra Señora de Soledad Catholic Church.
Richard told me that he had been homeless for a week. He said that he had a argument with his wife and decided to live on the streets instead of staying. He shaves regularly in the church's restroom because it is the only public restroom in the area. The small mirror he carried had broken the morning before so he used the chrome plumbing on the toilet as a mirror.
I have driven down the street many times since sometimes wondering where he is and if he ever got off the street.
Johnny Martinez' Bike - Avenida Cesar Chavez
May 22, 2009
I was at the City of Angels Tattoo shop a few years ago taking some photos when Johnny Martinez asked if I wanted to see the bike he built and customized.
We walked over to Norma's Beauty Salon on Avenida Cesar Chavez where his mom worked and shot it in the salon.
62nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony & 24 Hour Vigil
May 19, 2009
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4696 and American Legion Post 804 of East Los Angeles is having it's 62nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony & 24 Hour Vigil. The vigil starts at 10 am on Sunday May 24th, 2009 and the Memorial Day ceremony starts at 10am on May 25, 2009 at the Mexican American All Wars Memorial at Cinco Puntos (Lorena St. and Avenida Cesar Chavez).
Photo taken several years ago at a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Mexican American All Wars Memorial at Cinco Puntos.
Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead
May 06, 2009
Call for Submissions -
Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead
From October 19 to November 27, 2009, El Pueblo Historical Monument will present Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead. Sacred Memories follows El Pueblo’s acclaimed 2007 exhibition which explored celebrations that venerate the departed including Dia de los Muertos, first observed by the indigenous people of Latin America, China’s Qingming, and other rituals practiced in United States, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Artists are asked to submit for consideration two and three-dimensional work (including ofrendas/altars) that examines rituals honoring the deceased and/or pays tribute to departed ancestors.
For more information, please call Mariann Gatto (213)
485-8432 or email
mariann.gatto@lacity.org.
Los Angeles Times Street Scenes
May 04, 2009
At 4:30 am the bakers at El Gallo Bakery in East Los Angeles start baking fresh bread. It has been nearly a year since the Los Angeles Times Street Scenes were shot. Five Latino shooters, 4 photographers and one editor, shot 5 of the 14 neighborhoods.
I shot Avenida Cesar Chavez in East Los Angeles
Carlos Chavez shot Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood
Genaro Molina shot the Boardwalk in Venice
Michael Robinson-Chavez shot Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles
Karen Tapia shot the Orange Plaza in Orange
Graffiti in Los Angeles 1983
April 17, 2009
Here is another scan of an old print I pulled out of my print box.
This photo reminds me that not enough has changed for immigrants in my lifetime. The next few posts will be photos of the marches and walkouts of the last few years..
Ernesto de la Loza's “Resurrection of the Green Planet”
March 16, 2009
Last week I went to shoot a photo of Ernesto de la Loza's “Resurrection of the Green Planet”. It is probably one of my favorites because it is based after a photo by Graciela Iturbide. I looked for the photo all last week and could not find it to post it.
As I was looking for it I asked a photographer who collects photo books if he had it. I hit a sore spot. He rattled off several murals and paintings based after photos where the photographer was never given any credit. I understand. It has happened to me here in LA a couple of times and that is why I was going to post it.
But to be fair I have gotten calls from muralists who complain that a mural is in the photo but the artist was not given credit. Fair enough.
Here are recent stories from the LA Times and LAEastside regarding the mural.
Avenida Cesar Chavez Series
February 05, 2009
Sometime in 2002 I started to shoot along Avenida Cesar Chavez. It was very close to where I lived and also represented the lives of many of us living in East Los Angeles. The 6 or 7 mile long street runs from downtown Los Angeles, past La Placita, through Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles and ends in Monterey Park.
Shooting along one street helps me focus and revisit the constantly changing landscape. My Avenida Cesar Chavez gallery has some of the photos I have shot in recent years including several photos published online for the Los Angeles Times Street Scenes neighborhood profiles.